University of Manchester develops app to prevent lockdown falls

A free app has been developed at The University of Manchester to help reduce the high risk of falls and physical decline in older people self-isolating during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The evidence-based app - called Keep-On-Keep-Up - aims to reduce the thousands of injuries in the over 65’s caused by falls.

Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in older people; costs to NHS exceed £2.3 billion and in $50 billion per year according to NICE.

Around a third of people aged over 65 and half of people aged over 80 fall at least once a year.

Studies have shown that strength and balance based exercises reduce falls by up to 42%, yet levels of exercise are generally low without therapist input. 

The app provides personalised strength and balance exercises with an animated in-app trainer called, ‘Wilf’. It also uses health literacy games to increase awareness of home safety, importance of hydration, and ways to improve bone health and nutrition.

Principal investigator Dr Emma Stanmore from The Healthy Ageing Research Group at The University of Manchester said: “COVID-19 has confined many of the 12 million older adults aged 65 and above in the UK to their homes for a long period of time.

“Because many are already housebound and frail, they may have already been at risk of decline

“This increased sedentary behaviour can lead to impaired mobility, muscle deconditioning and poor balance which can increase falls and have a negative impact on physical and mental health.”

The app, developed by working with older people, will utilise the increasing numbers of them who have become more tech savvy during the pandemic.

Internet use and video calling has surged in the older 65s as they have found ways to stay connected with loved ones during the pandemic. 

Dr Stanmore said: “KOKU is an evidence-based, gamified app designed to help improve strength, balance and optimise healthy ageing, of particular use during the COVID-19 pandemic in a fun and interactive way.

“It is designed to be used independently by older adults and  based on best evidence for maintaining function and reducing falls.

“But it also includes health literacy games to increase awareness of home safety, importance of hydration, and ways to improve bone health and nutrition.

“It’s particularly relevant for older adults concerned about their risk of physical decline and wanting to remain independent at home

“But it’s also helpful for care home staff looking for interactive ways to engage older residents with simple, or people concerned about ageing relatives or friends who may be at risk of falls or frailty.”

The work was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network, Health Innovation Manchester, Danish Innovation Fund and Innovate UK

The project is also supported by the Masood Enterprise Centre, Manchester: Improving Medicine with Technology and Innovation (MIMIT) and the software developed by Reason Digital Ltd.